Conveyer



H. D. LATHROPUET Al. 1,877,334

couvrzynn Filed April 20. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y r 2/ /wz l I l. f/ [Il4 2 l Sept, 13, 1932.

4 Sheets-'Sheet 3 convysn Filed April 2o. 1952 l Sept 13, 1932. H. n.LATHRoP Erm.

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Patented Sept. 13', 1932 t N, PATENT" OFFICE i Hamann. LATHRonANJJWALTER-H.;1 AULsoN,`ori CHICAGO, ILLlINoIsQsAIn rfAUiLsoN ment, isillustrated*` inftheaccompanying mdrawings, inf'which-.s i

Y .ASSQIGrNOR TO'SAID LAQTHROP i Application-filed April 20,1

n j ustment for an'- feXtensive-fand curved .track`V` system f beingycontrolled at;n a single pomtf.

Other objectsn and advantages. .willV appear asxtherspecificatonproceeds: p .A is The `inventi on',V` int fthe preferred-i1- embodi-`Figurevl-:isaa broken rontvviewT in elevan tionfofaparatus-embodyingrour invention;

Fig-2, a 'rokenplan view; Fig-g3," a .front cletail view, theview'beingtakemas lndicatedr Valong-line oFigfQ; Figa-.11, aplansectional.A

view, the section-beingetakenf as indicated at. line bofFig: 1; Figv 5,-a Vvertical.sectionalz view,v the section being-.taken- -as indicated .Aat linelof Fig42; and fFig. 6, fai sideviewin.V elevationof'astraightse'ctionpf the coniveyer.apparatus-l1 f In"Athefillustrationil given, VA `represents ai y supportingmember g yB land .,Bf su erposed..

tracks :carried by thef support .A z .a con- `-veyer chain in :tracks:B- and B ;'and D,gfuide f railsat the. sides i of the upper conveyer.track B'. Y l

The support Amay'be of any suitable lconstruction. In the illustrationgiven,:av large" number of supports A areemployedtosup4- porttracks B'and iB" andthe supportsare*` i Y have suificientspace'betweentheirends-to per;v

mitgslippingiofthe' rails as the; rail is=dix identical in construction:Each'v comprises an upper frame member A carriedby a tus bular base A2which in'turn telescopicall-yfre- Iiiceivs a; standard A3.' Adjustment4screw mechanismf of welli knowrriconstructioumay be employed `to raise-'or Plower the 'framefAf upon: the -basef standardiAaq. v

The fframe- Afa, as ,show-n moreclearlyim vwhich isl spaced below "crossbeam 16;` supi 1932.. ser'iarive. 606,497.

beams'lO: ,which have flanges ll-and 12. The flanges? 11f arejoined attheirgbase'by base plate-13 whichfis provided wcentrally with a;vertical slot 14. As seen more clearlyin Figs;

l 1 and 55 the vertical flanges 1l `are equipped at their upper portionswith guidestuds'or bolts 15." A cross ibeamf 16 which extends betweenthetops offvertical flanges-.11 supports'the upper track B andVa'similarcross'beam 17 ports 'theflower track; B. clearlyin Figs.l il'and, the `frame Af -is'providedxcentrally with', a web 'orfcross beamA18 which isf .apertured to receive and `support a. v

' vThe tracks'B `"and Bf maybefof any suitable" construction;As'illustrate'd, each" track i their vertical anges spaced? aparttoprovide `guide ra'ilslfo'rthe.chainfconvever 0. v

The chain;v GV may also be of any suitable formizand may bel driven byany' suitable means. Itfispreferredtoiemployf, aV conf v75V,nectedxunits*which` permit thechain to pass 1 tinuous chain composedof. pivotallyf` con@ around curves, corners,g etc. y

The guide' rails l"D are illustrat das tubular 6079 As shown' moreVjcomprises arpair'of 'anglemembersQO which L p l"have their horzontalflanges inalignmentand f Y l* members which: aresupportedas willbe herefinaftercdescribed, above anden the "sides'of the upper trackB. Therails'may be curved,` as shownfinfliigs.y Zand 3,\to conform'to thecurved tracks'B. In order to permit lateral movementfof thegude rails 1),-as will'be later-described7 .the .rails are severed along the 'curvesor -bends and. provided with slip" joints. Asrshown in.l detaillinFig'.;3, the end I portion ofone segment 'of the railf is `cut awayalong its lower side at 21, while the adjacent ,endrportion of theothersegmentis cut-'away along its itopffside `ati22; The twosegmentsrected awaylfrom 'the track Aior drawn inf' ward'lytoward 'thetrack; i Theiinnerrailais.

illustrated inFigfq.

In order to support thefguide rails Diyatf'anl I elevationf above theupper track-B; Awe prefer to'employ, infcombinationwith each support? A,toggle arms or link members 23Y and 24. The arms, as illustrated inFigs. 1 and 5, are preferably spaced apart at their upper portions insubstantial alignment with the ver- 5 ltical Hanges 11 and the upperends ofthe links releasably engage hollow sleeves 25 with which theguide rails D are provided. The lower portions of the link arms 23 and24are inclined inwardly and overlap at their ends 26. The stud 26preferably extends through the slot 14 with which the base plate 13 isprovided and is retained within the slot by a nut. The link arms 23 and24 are provided at their waist portion with outwardly inclined slots 27which.` are engaged by the guide studs 15 carried by flanges 11. Asshown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, the link arm 24 is' equipped 2o atits lowerside with a pin" 28 which isenrock shaft 19. f Y When the rock4shaft 19 is rotated so as to bring the `finger 29up against the pin 28,the link arms 23 and 24 are raised, the guide slots 27 directing thelateralV movement of the upper*v endsV of the link arms, as will belaterdescribed. Any suitable'means for turning the rock shaft 19-may bejemployed. .For ex-V ample, a lever arm may be securedto thezshaft-v `forcurve in the track, it has beenv 'foufnd'advantageous vbecause oftheunitary l structure 30 at any point. It is preferred, however, to

secure the leverV arm: as illustrated inFigs.

1,2 and14. Y At a cornerof the track, a pairof supports -A-are broughtlinto the position illustrated in Fig.` 4 *andi the flangesv 12` areconnected byja metal strap 30. f A short length of the rock shaft i1-9is connected to the two espec/@Sg -YFOT' example, the: @Clinati/Qn;iofvY angularly disposed adjacent endsV of the rock shafts which extendthrough the two supports A-,lby universal joints 31. Ak lever bar 32 isprovided with a'collar 33 which is keyed to the short lengthof shaft19`and is provided with an integral extension 34. A-,latch bar 35,equipped with Vv'any suitable number lof notches, is pivotally connectedto thev end 1,'afrel'ease bar is securedftolatch bar 35v and supported1n close relation with the lever f 32 by ametal loop 38. A spring 39 isConiined between` the ,loop 38 andthe latch bar 35and urges the latchbar into contact with the metal v strap 30.. Infthe fr operation oftheapparatus, when 1t isdeslred to convey ay smallv package or bot'-tleand'of relatively smallthickness ordiameter, the guide rails D arelowered and Vdrawn inwardlyso as to b-racethe sides of 69: the` small`package orbottle; vThis is accomplished by turning the rock shaft` so asto f chain, a'guide' rail support-ed abo'yvey ajnd at 1 .depress theslotted inger29 which engages pin 28`on the link arm 24, .thus loweringthe linkuarm's and guide rails; At the samev time,k the lne-lined fslots127, -inengagement with.V

where'they are pivotally connected by' lstud the same time, the latchbar ratchets over the Vmetal strap30. After the desired velevation gagedby the slotted iinger 29 keyed to vthey i l 4is reached, the bar32'mayberelaSedfthe of the extension 34. The `latchfbar 35 en-VV claims Vtheword fchai'n is employed, we de- 'i with the metal strap 30 and this isbrought 79 i about by drawing the bar 37 upwardly toward the handle orlever 32. The latch bar 35.1nay have any desired number of notches soIthat the guide rails may be stopped at any desired elevation'. In forder to raise and spread the link arms and guide rails so as to receiveand brace a larger package or bottle,the lever or handle 32 is depressedso as to rock the shaft 19V-and bring the actuating linger 29 againstthe pin 28. The link arms are thus raised and the guide slots'27 causethe upper ends ofthe link arms andthe guide rails D to expand as theyare elevated. At

latch; bar 35 serving `to maintain the rails` at thatheight.,v`v`

By the use of universalYjointsl between straight lengths "of rocklshafts',- the' 'actuation *ofthe y* link armsYYY 'maybe accomplishedalong an extensive vstretch ofstraight andcurvedv conveyer tracks.-kVV/hile it isln'ot nec-v`v essary'that the lever arm be placed ata bendafforded bythe adjacent pair-'ofsupportsand 1 l because'y vof' thedirect? actuation of the two long lengths:V ofrockshaft.

The, apparatus may beniodi'ied in many'l the v guidefslots may vbeVvaried andthe con-x V- tour ofthe slots changed to adjust'theguide railsto the shape and form ofthe articlesv which are to 'be conveyed; inother words, by specifying the types of articles to be vhandled, the Aguide slots may 'bei fashioned so` as tov bring lthe-guide frail'sintojuxtaposition, i

l withthe sides of each of the articles handledlf and at the properelevation therefor.

While t-he conveying elementhas vbeen de# scribed as a chain, it: willbe understoodthat f any other suitable conveying'mechanis'mmay beemployed,` and where in the accompanying sire to cover belts and otherconveying strips-,lr` Y uThe foregoing detailed description has beengiven for` clearness of; understanding A only, and no yunnecessaryylimitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended; claimsshouldv be construed as broadly aspermissible, inview of the. prior artAY.

We claim: ,11, .z

1.*.1n a device-of the character setforth,` a conveyer chain, meansy forsupporting-the one side of Vsaid chain, means forfraising and. loweringthe; rail, and guidefmeans for directsl ingtherail away from ther chainas ithe rail is raised and toward the chain as the rail is lowered.

2. In a device of the character set forth, a conveyer chain, means forsupporting the chain, guide rails supported above and at the sides ofsaid chain, means for simultaneously raising and lowering the rails, andguide means associated with said last-mentioned means for directing therails away from the chain as they are raised and toward thechain as theyare lowered.

3. In a device of the character set forth, a conveyer chain, means forsupporting the cha-in, guide rails supported above and at the sides ofsaid chain, means for simultaneously raising and lowering the rails,guide means for directing the rails away from the chain as they areraised and toward the chain as they are lowered, and latch means forreleasably locking said rails in one or more elevated positions.

4c. In a device of the character set forth, a conveyer chain, means forsupporting the chain, guide rails supported above and at the sides ofsaid chain, means for simultaneously raising and lowering the rails,said means including a plurality of rock shafts connectedV at their endsby universal joints, and guide means for directing the rails away fromthe chain as they are raised and toward the chain as they are lowered.

5. In a devicev of the character set forth, a

support, a conveyer chain carried thereby,

guide rails, arms supporting said rails above and at one side of saidchain, means for raising and lowering said arms, and guide meansassociated with said support and said arms for expanding said armsduring the raising operation and contracting them during the loweringoperation.

6. In a device of the character set forth, a support, a conveyer chaincarried thereby, guide rails, link arms piv-otally connected at one en dand supporting said guide rails above and at the sides of said chain,means for raising and lowering said arms, and guide means carried bysaid support and said arms for eX- panding said rails during the raisingoperation and Y contracting them during the lowering operation.

7. In a device of the character set forth, support, a conveyer chaincarried thereby, guide rails, link arms pivotally connected at one endand supporting said guide rails above and at the sides of said chain,means for raising and lowering said arms, and guide means on saidsupport and said arms for expanding said rails Vduring the raisingoperation and contracting them during the lowering opera- 'tion, saidmeans comprising cooperating guide studs and inclined guide slots.

8. In combination with conveyer apparatus equipped with a conveyer chainand guide rails thereabove, a support having vertical flanges equippedwith guide studs, a pair of yconnecting shaft, link arms slidably conlink arms engaging; saidfguide rails andfhavf. ing their lower ends.pivotally connected/,saide link arms having inclinedV guide slotsengage. y ing said guide l'studs, and means forraisingf said arms; l Y1,70

v9; In combination withkconveyer appara-J tus having a conveyerchainfand guide rails thereabove,` afsupportequipped `with iguide studsand a vertical slot, toggle arm'sengag4`r ing saidlguide rails, a pivotstud connecting '753i the lower ends of said armsand'engaging the"`verticalslot of said support, inclined guide slots in, said arm'sandreceiving the guide studs ofsaid? supporuuandwmeans for-':raisingf 1said arms.V l Y 10. In combination with `'conveyer apparatus equippedwithaconveyer chain and guide rails thereabove, a support, link armsengaging said guide rails, cooperating guide means A on said link armsand said support, a rock. shaft carried by said support, cooperatingmeans carried by said rock shaft andfsaid link arms for raising saidlink arms as said shaft is rotated, and means for rotating said l shaft.f 90@ ll. In combination with conveyer apparatus equipped with aconveyer chain and guide rails thereabove, a support, link arms engagingsaid guide rails, cooperating guide means on said link arms and saidsupport, a rock shaft carried by said support, cooperating means carriedby said rock shaft and said link arms for raising said link arms assai-d shaft is rotated, said means comprising a pin carried by one ofsaid link arms, and an actuating iinger carried by saidrock shaft.

12. In combination with conveyer apparatus having a curved track and. aconveyer chain and having also curved guide rails above said track, apair of supports on each side of the curved track, rock. shaftssupported therein, a connecting shaft secured to the ends of saidfirst-mentioned shaft by universal joints, a lever arm secured to saidnected to said supports and carrying said guide rails, and cooperatingmeans carried by said rock shafts and said arms for raising said arms. V

13. In a device of the Character set forth, a curved conveyer track,supports on each side of the curved portion of said track, rock shafts Yrotatably mounted in said supports, a chain in said track, curved guiderails over the n curved portion of ther track, said' guide rails beingequipped with slip joints, a connecter shaft joined to said rockshaftsby universal joints, a lever secured to said connector shaft, linkarms engaging said guide rails and slidably connected to said supports,and y means carried by said arms and said rock shafts for eleyating saidarms upon rotation of said connector shaft. y

14. In a device of the character set forth,

a curved conveyer track, supports on each side ofthe curved portion ofsaid track, rock shafts rotatably mounted in said supports, a chain insaid track, curved guide rails over 5' the curved'portion of the track,sai-d guide rails being equipped vWith slip joints, a connector shaftjoined to said rock shafts by universal joints, a lever secured to saidconnector shaft, -link arms engaging said guide rails and 162` havinginclinedguide connections With said supports, means carried by said armsand said rock shafts for elevating said arms upon rotation of saidshaft, and releasable latching means associated with said lever forsupportising said arms in elevated position. Y

HARRY D. LATHROP. WALTER H. PAULSON.

. affl cio lnuy

